Just about everyone knows that the Bris takes place on the 8th day of life.
Not everyone knows that the first day of life counts as "Day 1," no matter what time of day it is, as long as it is before sunset.
So, a baby born any time in the AM on Monday, until sunset on Monday, will have his bris the following Monday. Born after sunset on Monday will have his bris the following Tuesday. (fill in any other day of the week for a similar equation... exception to follow)
A little while back I wrote several mini articles defining some of the most common terms and phrases related to Bris. This is different than the tools of the trade, which will be reposted soon.
Just to make clear: This is not advice on how to set up the celebratory meal and/or buffet
The original post on this subject can be found here.
While the link above will suffice, just remember these few tips.
If there is a ceremony (as opposed to a very private affair), the bris should be in a prominent place in the room
There should be good lighting, so the mohel can see what he is doing!
Every mohel needs a table to lay out his supplies. It should be larger than a TV table. A card table or most folding tables are adequate.
There either need to be one or two chairs available - for the Chair of Elijah (Kisei Eliyahu). If the chairs available are barstool height, there should be some kind of stepstool available for the Sandak to put his legs so he can easily hold the baby.
It is also very helpful for a private room to be designated or arranged (if in a venue outside of the home, where there is always a bedroom available) for the mohel to examine the baby beforehand and afterwards, particularly if he intends to check the bandage before leaving.
Since this website is in blog form, unless people search for what they are looking for, some of the early blog posts don't get much attention - though that's where much of the important stuff is!
You can always go here for the most important info preparing you for the bris and the ceremony:
http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2015/01/the-basic-information-all-you-need-to.html
Over the coming weeks, I'll be posting things that have been written before, in a little bit more of an organized fashion, so newcomers can find things closer to the top of the blog roll.
FIRST TOPIC: PLANNING IN ADVANCE (this first appeared here, in the first blog post ever!):
It is edited from there to reflect things I've seen and experienced since this was first written.
PLANNING AHEAD <-- That link is to a similar discussion of this nature
Sometimes it is helpful - BEFORE baby comes - to think things out, to decide who will do what once baby arrives.
Purchases - Baby Supplies
* Car Seat
If you're going to have a hospital birth, you'll need a car seat for that ride home (with a home birth, you won't need one until you're ready to take the baby somewhere!).
I am starting a new series of blog posts that connect to many of my earlier writings on important subjects that have gotten lost in the blogosphere over the years. The idea is for this to be a little more systematic, organized, and navigable for those looking for the most important and pressing information for your family's bris experience.
Some of the information is expanded upon from earlier information. Sometimes just links to information originally posted here in the early years of this site (i.e. 2009-2013) are posted for your convenience, with minimal explanation.
Disclaimer: I am only a mohel. I am not in the "birthing business." I leave that to the OBs and the Midwives. I am also not a doctor - though I do specialize in circumcision and care for the post-op circumcision spot.
Many years ago, I wrote this in response to a recall on Children's Tylenol, addressing (in layman's terms) whether Tylenol for a cranky post-bris baby was a good idea.
I've also given a few tidbits that I've picked up over the years, which I wrote about here. There's a link there to another article I wrote on this topic as well. It's mostly "parenting suggestions" for parents to get the most out of the experience of caring for the baby post-bris, and even longer term, such as how to avoid diaper rashes, misshaped heads, the question of feeding baby on a schedule... etc
To the medicating question, however, I'll add... WHAT'S the rush to medicate? Is the bandage too tight? Is there a bandage at all? Has the baby been fed? Is he able to urinate? Does he have a clean diaper? See that he is comfortable! Most babies ARE consolable after the bris. Most babies are FINE after the bris, when clean, fed, held, etc.
EVERY medical intervention has potential, unanticipated side effects. EVERY ONE. Tread with much caution. Read labels. Never make hasty decisions. Research. Don’t take one person’s word or advice without seeking information from other sources.
Here I'd like to offer another anecdotal piece of advice, and that is to choose your health provider very carefully.
Rabbi Avraham Chaim Schor was of the opinion that owing to the significant role of the Sandak's lap, the Sandak should hold the baby for the naming as well.
By and large that is more of a custom that I've seen in Sefardic circles, though not exclusively - in other words, all kinds of Jews like to "spread the wealth" and give out as many kibbudim as they can.
Here are his words. Decide for yourself what is best for you.
תורת חיים מסכת סנהדרין דף פט עמוד ב
ומהאי נראה דדוקא הסנדק המחזיק את הולד בשעת המילה על ברכיו הוא יחזיקנו ג"כ בשעת ברכה וישתה מן הכוס של יין ודלא כאותן שנוטלין את הילד מן הסנדק לאחר שנימול ונותנין אותו לאדם אחר להחזיקו בשעת ברכה והוא שותה כוס של ברכה דאיהו לאו מזבח יחשב ומה לו לשתות כוס של ברכה זו והיינו דכתיב ומלכי צדק מלך שלם הוציא לחם ויין ואיתא במדרש שרמז לו על המנחות והנסכים לפי שאברהם נביא וחכם הוה והוציא לו לחם לאכול ויין לשתות והוה ליה כאלו הביא מנחות ונסכים שנאמר אליכם אישים אקרא.
